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Hello, friends. I'm sorry for the lack of posting. A few of you have been asking where I am and if I'm okay. I am. Summer has just taken over and I feel like I'm trying to play catch up more than anything. =o) When the kids are back in school, I should hopefully be a better blogger. (I do post weekly at the PBJ blog and try to follow friends at facebook and twitter so if you are there, please look me up).
Here is a "Friday Five" to catch up a little:
1. One main reason I haven't been blogging as much is that I've been making my health goals a priority. Guess what? I have lost 20 pounds so far. If people tell you that losing the weight will not make you happy, they are wrong. I am ecstatic! I am feeling more and more like my authentic self with every passing day.
2. Speaking of health and wellness, I am so excited about a project that I was just offered. Dover Publishing asked if I would be interested in doing another book like my "Science Around the House" (coming out in Sept.) . This one will focus on making healthy eating fun for kids. How serendipitous is that? Deadline is December so I have my hands full. 80 pages.
Portion of one of the samples for proposal.
3. This summer, gratefully, I did have work come my way. It was mostly educational so a lot of b&w. I did a book for Flying Frog Press which was also in b&w but will be colored digitally in-house. I am anxious to see how it turned out. =o)
4. Because of that, I have really let my color work go this summer. I haven't done anything new since the Santa pieces I did in the Spring. Here are some sketches I have on my table waiting to be colored. I did these for a friends son who loves all things military. I don't have much geared to boys in my portfolio so I'm anxious to get these in there.
click to enlarge
5. Summer movies... I haven't been as often as I would have liked. I missed out on Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After. I did catch Eclipse and Inception, though, and enjoyed both!
Speaking of the Twilight series, the sound track to Eclipse is awesome
Happy Friday everyone!
This week, I worked up some Santa Illustrations for a potential project. This happens quite a lot . There will be a request from a publisher to see samples reflecting a certain theme and your agent sends samples from his/her stable of artists. I wanted to be included in this submission so I had to get these completed quickly.
They are a bit different from my typical style. I omitted the stitching in hopes that it would help them look a tad older. Plus, it was quicker. =o)
Break open the bubbly, I officially inked in my last sketch last night! I have been working on this book since the summer and as much as I have enjoyed it, I'm so thrilled to be finished.
I had to create 75 pages of science projects that kids can do at home. Here is a snippet from one of the pages. It was fun researching and trying to figure out the best way to illustrate, provide directions and the scientific content. I think I spent more time researching which projects to use for the book than creating the actual pages. What a challenge but I think probably the most fun I've ever had on a project.
So now I'll get all the files together and ship out on Monday to the publisher.
Just a quickie post to say I'm still working away here. The summer was a blur with the kids starting school the end of last week. When I was in school, we started after labor day. This just seems way too early to be going back. Aw well.
Illustration work is clicking along. One job that was only supposed to be a 3 page brochure turned into 9 pages which added to the workload considerably. That along with a tight deadline for 4 board books, I am working around the clock which is doing a number on my shoulders. I mean, I am in excruciating pain here. I'm not sure how to remedy it because I am so focused on getting this work turned in asap. I think I have about another week before I can take a break from the computer.
Anyone else experience this shoulder muscle pain?
The GREAT news ,however, is that my new wacom tablet has been invaluable. I never dreamed that I would be using the pen so much. I thought it would hurt my wrist but the opposite has happened. I can go for hours and hours vs using a mouse. Thankful for that!
Okay, back to it. Happy illustrating everyone.
Sorry to be so absent. I have a quick turnaround on the sketches for these board books. Juggling that with day to day living has left little time for much else.
Above are the thumbs for book three. I feel comfortable showing them because they will probably change a lot when I go to final sketch phase. This was just the first attempt at potential ideas. Now, it's time for book 4 thumbs and then I'll move on to making them all legible.
I'm working on all four at the same time because I want to make sure that I don't repeat tactile elements.
Fun stuff!
If you're slaving away on a dummy book, keep at it, it's worth it. Unfortunately, I'm not writing to celebrate a sale but I do have some good news.
The illo above is a finish from a dummy book that was recently submitted to a publisher looking for board book ideas. It piqued the interest of an editor but ultimately, the publisher passed. However, they did offer me a series of touch 'n feel board books to illustrate so I'm pretty thrilled.
So again, keep working on your dummy books, you just never know what opportunities it may bring your way. And as for this little dummy book...back out it goes to see if it can find a home. =o)
I'm getting ready to re send my little dummy book out into the world. I wanted to revamp the final art samples to reflect my new style. I mentioned this over at Twitter and said I would share it, so here it is. Click to view larger.
Here is the original felt version:
and here is the updated one:
I have given up the desire to make the new style look exactly like the original felt. I was stressing myself out too much with it and realized that it was defeating the purpose of... less stress.
I'm often asked why I transitioned to digital and there are many reasons. Number one, it's a lot of fun! I have way more freedom now and I look forward to experimenting and exploring. Now, I can try several color or pattern scenarios without having to commit.
Another major reason is it's much easier to meet deadlines. Over the years, I've noticed more and more that publishers are wanting changes to the final art. This was challenging with my traditional pieces. Often, it meant completely starting over, even if it was a minor (to them) change.
Artist's starting out that work in textiles ask me if I think they should work digitally. My answer is no. Not if you truly love what you do and it's your form of expression. There is nothing like the look of traditional fabrics and stitching. I still love its natural, organic quality.
I just particularly enjoy working on the computer. If you move to digital just because you think you "should", you'll be unhappy.
Hi all. Happy New Year! I hope it brings you all of your hearts desires.
Another post to come on my hopes for 2009 but for now, here is a year in review via illustrations...
January
Educational poster - Denardo Designs
February
Published in Feb. issue of Highlights Magazine
Decide to finally take the plunge and learn Adobe Illustrator. First piece.
March
Last piece this year created traditionally.
April
Published in April issue of Highlights Magazine.
May
After much experimenting, I develop a digital style I can call my own.
Created with pen tool in photoshop after learning how to use it in Illustrator.
June
Postcard created for local scbwi get together.
July
More digi-felt experimentation.
August
First assignment created with my new style.
EEC International
September
Educational Poster - Denardo Designs.
October
Mock up covers for my first books that can be found on Amazon or in bookstores!
Pub date June O9.
November
First piece created after our move from Las Vegas to Scott AFB, IL.
December
Final assignment for 2008. From a "fold and go" book for, Elements Publishing.
That was harder to compile than I thought!
Here is a puzzle that is included in this month's HIGHLIGHT'S MAGAZINE.
If you go to the back of the magazine, it's with the puzzles and games.
Kids figure out which kite is which depending on the clues given.
For the March 08 issue of Highlights Magazine, I was asked to illustrate a "picture puzzler".This was probably the most challenging assignment and the most rewarding.
Before tackling the 3-D elements, I had several go rounds before I got the sketch right.
Sketch # 1
Not busy enough and too young.
Sketch # 2
Better but the bugs look too generic. They need to be more recognizable and anatomically correct.
Ants climbing leaf are not proportional to the rest of the design.
Sketch # 3
Ladybugs still don't look enough like ladybugs and composition needs to be busier in the background. Remove the wing-like arms from catepillar.
Sketch # 4
ACCEPTED! The only change was to remove the spider hanging off the fishing pole and add more flies.
Here is the finished art. I ended up using a lot of fabric to help incorporate all the details.
I hope I get to do another one!
* I have had a heck of a time with typepad lately. All of my images come out disproportioned and when you click on the thumbnail the enlarged version is blurry. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.
Now that the kids and I seem to be settling back into the school routine and Lily is getting into a schedule, it's time to get back to work. Thankfully, an assignment has come along to help get the wheels turning.
It's for Highlights Magazine and I'm super excited about it. I get to draw one of my favorite things...cute BUGS.
Wish I could show you more but I'm afraid it will have to wait until publication which is not until the new year.
Check out my other "back to school" post at the the pbj's.
Now that the kids and I seem to be settling back into the school routine and the poopie (puppy) is getting into a schedule, it's time to get back to work. Thankfully, an assignment has come along to help get the wheels turning.
It's for Highlights Magazine and I'm super excited about it. I get to draw one of my favorite things...cute BUGS.
Wish I could show you more but I'm afraid it will have to wait until publication which is not until the new year.
I had a lot of fun with these! I'm going to have to rethink bright yellow fabric for backgrounds in future.
To the naked eye it looked fine after a few rollovers with lint tape. But after it was scanned, Vals hair was all over the place! Serves me right for leaving the bags of fabric on the floor for too long, huh.
Still working on babies for my portfolio. Since I had several illustrations I wanted to finish, it was easier to do some of the steps together on multiple illos. I don't know if it's quicker or not but it feels like it is. These are all at a place where I need to start adding stitches. Now, I'll finish each one by one.
I hope to have these done by Monday.
Working on some baby illustrations to add to the portfolio.
I'm working on an assignment for High Five Magazine (yay!). These fabrics were bought to experiment with an idea I have. Hopefully it will work but if not I'm sure I'll be able to find a use for them somewhere else. Needless to say 75% of what is pictured here I don't actually need for the assignment. =o)
